Cycle 8 (2021–2022) VLBI Delta Acceptance Report

Abstract

This report summarizes the acceptance process for VLBI which was carried out in 2021 as part of the normal Cycle 8 Acceptance and later, through the 2021–2022 preparations for the 2022 VLBI Campaigns. It reviews the hardware setup and checks that must be made at various times prior to any observations with VLBI peers. Then there is a suite of offline tests of the SB-generation that include observation simulation. There is also a suite of on-sky regression tests that exercise the ALMA Phasing System (APS). The final step of the acceptance has historically been the execution of a short “dress rehearsal” (DR) usually in January of the cycle year with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) to provide end-to-end validation of the system via fringes to remote peers. Collectively these tests establish that the science VLBI projects may proceed without issue.